Climate change is poised to wipe out several UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally within the next three decades, with five iconic sites in India among those at risk, according to recent media reports. The endangered Indian sites include Khangchendzonga National Park, the Sun Temple in Konark, Keoladeo National Park, Sundarbans National Park, and the Churches and Convents of Goa.
The alarming findings stem from an assessment by experts who evaluated climate models to predict the impact of flooding, coastal erosion, landslides, wind-based hazards, storms, and cyclones on these landmark sites. The analysis revealed that 50 World Heritage Sites are at risk worldwide, with five located in India.
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Lukky Ahmed, CEO and co-founder of Climate X, emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, "This is a warning for governments, preservationists, and the global community to prioritise safeguarding our planet—to preserve our ancient monuments and our current assets and infrastructure—and to protect life today and into the future."
UNESCO's World Heritage list currently comprises 1,223 sites deemed crucial for protection due to their cultural, historical, or environmental significance. The report highlights that if global greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate, many of these sites could be lost.
The analysis was conducted using Climate X's Spectra platform, which models how properties, assets, and infrastructure will be affected by climate change under different scenarios. The platform’s algorithm quantified risks from 16 different climate hazards, including tropical cyclones, extreme heat, and flooding, across eight warming scenarios projected over the next 100 years.
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Globally, Indonesia's Subak System, which faces the risks of surface flooding, extreme heat, and drought, topped the list of vulnerable sites. It was followed by Australia's Kakadu National Park, which is at risk of surface flooding and wildfires, and China's Quanzhou: Emporium of the World.
Other significant sites under threat include Australia's Sydney Opera House, the US Olympic National Park, Switzerland's Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, and Korea's Sansa Buddhist Mountain Monasteries.
